Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Primary care
An Exploratory Analysis of U.S. Health System Workforce Trends
Examines the impact of hospital mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and changes in health system affiliations on workforce availability. Utilizes 2018 and 2020-2023 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Compendium of U.S. Health Systems data to examine hospital system membership and system workforce characteristics. Provides breakdowns of primary care physician, all physician, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant workforce supply per bed according to hospital characteristics such as census region, ownership, operating margin, and rurality.
Author(s): Deborah Odihi, Tyler Malone
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Examines the impact of hospital mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and changes in health system affiliations on workforce availability. Utilizes 2018 and 2020-2023 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Compendium of U.S. Health Systems data to examine hospital system membership and system workforce characteristics. Provides breakdowns of primary care physician, all physician, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant workforce supply per bed according to hospital characteristics such as census region, ownership, operating margin, and rurality.
Author(s): Deborah Odihi, Tyler Malone
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Recruiting Rural Patients for Clinical Research: Lessons From a Colorectal Cancer Screening Trial
Examines the effectiveness of the Colonoscopy Outreach for Rural Communities (CORC) trial in recruiting rural patients via its remotely-delivered patient navigation program. Analyzes location of primary care organizations (PCOs) participating in CORC and their success in recruiting rural patients in clinical research.
Author(s): Gina A. Keppel, Brooke Ike, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Allison M. Cole
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70189
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the effectiveness of the Colonoscopy Outreach for Rural Communities (CORC) trial in recruiting rural patients via its remotely-delivered patient navigation program. Analyzes location of primary care organizations (PCOs) participating in CORC and their success in recruiting rural patients in clinical research.
Author(s): Gina A. Keppel, Brooke Ike, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Allison M. Cole
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70189
Date: 07/2026
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How Primary Care Medics Can Bring Needed Health Care to Rural Americans
Describes Penn State College of Medicine's Primary Care Medic Project, a certificate-based pathway under development that will train local individuals to deliver primary and preventive care under the supervision of licensed clinicians. Discusses how primary care medics will fill gaps between community-based outreach and licensed primary care providers. Compares the scope of practice of primary care medics with those of community health workers, paramedics, and registered nurses, among others.
Author(s): Mark B. Stephens, Robin W. Weinick
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Describes Penn State College of Medicine's Primary Care Medic Project, a certificate-based pathway under development that will train local individuals to deliver primary and preventive care under the supervision of licensed clinicians. Discusses how primary care medics will fill gaps between community-based outreach and licensed primary care providers. Compares the scope of practice of primary care medics with those of community health workers, paramedics, and registered nurses, among others.
Author(s): Mark B. Stephens, Robin W. Weinick
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Trends in Rural and Urban Family Physician Teaching of Health Professions Students and Residents
Compares the amount of early career family physicians offering clinical instruction to health professions students in rural and urban areas. Analyzes the types of students being taught, such as premedical, medical, residents, or fellows, among others, as well as practice characteristics of the settings where physicians were engaged in teaching.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Lars E. Peterson, Davis G. Patterson, et al.
Citation: Family Medicine, 266557
Date: 07/2026
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Compares the amount of early career family physicians offering clinical instruction to health professions students in rural and urban areas. Analyzes the types of students being taught, such as premedical, medical, residents, or fellows, among others, as well as practice characteristics of the settings where physicians were engaged in teaching.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Lars E. Peterson, Davis G. Patterson, et al.
Citation: Family Medicine, 266557
Date: 07/2026
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As Alpha-gal Syndrome Spreads, Rural Providers Are on the 'Front Line'
Provides an overview of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a tick-borne allergy to mammalian products. Describes the spread of AGS and the importance of raising awareness of AGS among rural primary care providers.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Provides an overview of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a tick-borne allergy to mammalian products. Describes the spread of AGS and the importance of raising awareness of AGS among rural primary care providers.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Health Professional Shortage Areas: Primary Care
Printable map that shows nonmetropolitan and micropolitan primary care HPSAs on one color scale and metropolitan primary care HPSAs on another. Data source: data.HRSA.gov
Additional links: Primary Care HPSA Table
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Printable map that shows nonmetropolitan and micropolitan primary care HPSAs on one color scale and metropolitan primary care HPSAs on another. Data source: data.HRSA.gov
Additional links: Primary Care HPSA Table
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Idaho Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area Service Areas
Illustrates the Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in the state of Idaho by county. Includes both the geographic and population group HPSA designations.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Idaho Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care
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Illustrates the Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in the state of Idaho by county. Includes both the geographic and population group HPSA designations.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Idaho Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care
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Keeping Patients with Confidence: Using Telehealth to Treat Patients in Rural Georgia
Interview with Dr. Matt Lyon, of the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Discusses the Digital Care Network, linking specialists to rural primary care physicians and enabling more patients to stay in local hospitals. Includes discussion of the ways in which the platform was used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): John Hick
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE)
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Interview with Dr. Matt Lyon, of the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Discusses the Digital Care Network, linking specialists to rural primary care physicians and enabling more patients to stay in local hospitals. Includes discussion of the ways in which the platform was used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): John Hick
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE)
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Rural Primary Care and Value Based Payment: Challenges and Opportunities
Slides from a June 5, 2026, presentation to the National Academy for State Health Policy's Rural Primary Care Learning Network. Discusses addressing challenges rural providers have related to value-based care.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, A. Clinton MacKinney
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Slides from a June 5, 2026, presentation to the National Academy for State Health Policy's Rural Primary Care Learning Network. Discusses addressing challenges rural providers have related to value-based care.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, A. Clinton MacKinney
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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"This Is What I Acquired in the Military, I Want to Keep It at the VA": Healthcare Perspectives and Preferences among Rural American Indian/Alaska Native Women Veterans
Explores ways to improve healthcare access and outcomes for rural American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women veterans. Bases findings of listening sessions with 43 AI/AN veteran women on their experiences accessing healthcare from both the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS).
Author(s): Mary K. Good, Daniel D. Ball, B. Josea Kramer, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70177
Date: 06/2026
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Explores ways to improve healthcare access and outcomes for rural American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women veterans. Bases findings of listening sessions with 43 AI/AN veteran women on their experiences accessing healthcare from both the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS).
Author(s): Mary K. Good, Daniel D. Ball, B. Josea Kramer, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70177
Date: 06/2026
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